Malou M. – Story Power

Cordelia Vs. Goneril and Regan

On February 4, 2025

Goneril and Regan’s manipulative and deceptive emotions toward their father is contrasted by, Cordelia’s love for King Lear which is real, sympathetic, and based on true respect and loyalty. Cordelia tells him that she loves him but feels as though she shouldn’t have to prove that she does, stating, “I am sure, my love’s More richer than my tongue.” Cordelia means that her love for her father is deep and sincere, but she cannot express it adequately with words. She believes that true love is shown through actions rather than grand gestures. Even after Lear rejects her for failing to sustain his ego, her love remains sincere and unwavering. She eventually demonstrates her unshakable commitment by going back to help her father in despite his previous rejection, demonstrating that her love is founded on responsibility and genuine familial caring rather than selfish interests.

Goneril and Regan, on the other hand, express exaggerated and insincere declarations of love to manipulate their father into giving them power and land. They compete in showering him with endless compliments, yet their actions soon reveal their true nature as they plot to strip Lear of his authority and dignity. Their love is conditional and self-serving, disappearing the moment Lear becomes an inconvenience. Unlike Cordelia, who remains loyal even in hardship, Goneril and Regan betray and ultimately destroy each other in their ruthless pursuit of power. Their love, unlike Cordelia’s, is driven by ambition rather than genuine affection.

“Landslide” A Song Of Growth And Reflection

By Malou M.

On December 5, 2024

In Music Poetry

“Landslide” a song released in 1975 apart of the album, Fleetwood Mac. While the self-titled album contains many emotional and person songs, it does not cohere to a specific overarching narrative. The speaker in this song is Stevie Nicks and she does so with immense emotion that is projected in her voice, to add on because she is so reflective with her lyrics it seems to be as if she is writing to herself. She wrote this song during a difficult time for her, while contemplating her future as well as struggling financially as well in her relationships. This song captures her internal monologue as well as the fears that come with it. Moreover Nicks has also given her father a shout out at the beginning of singing “Landslide” as well as mentioned that the song was influenced by her father, the man who pushed her to pursue her dreams, which resulted in her writing songs about legacy and love.

Landslide is one of the most heart touching and emotional songs it revolves around time, self-reflection, and growth. The emotionally difficult process of facing life’s uncertainties, growing older, and adjusting to unavoidable changes is captured in this very reflective song.

I climbed a mountain,
and I turned around
And when I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
‘Til the landslide brought me down

This specific quote highlights the themes of reflection and growth. Nicks referring to the act of “climbing a mountain” symbolizing personal goals as well as striving for growth, it could also represent her career, climbing a mountain symbolizing the ups and downs of careers and life in general. To add on “turning around” and seeing her reflection in the snow-covered hills is a moment of reflection, when she turns around she is looking back at her journey from accomplishments to struggles, as well as seeing herself in the snow-covered hills confronts her with a truthful image of herself.

Well, I’ve been afraid of changin’
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you.

This line captures the inability to let go of deep attachments and the fear of change. Even if change is necessary, the speaker admits that they are afraid to change the life they have created. Particularly when one’s identity or stability has been connected to a certain individual, relationship, or circumstance, change can feel frightening. The speaker is addressing the conflict between holding onto the past and accepting the unpredictability of the future by acknowledging their fear. The song’s journey through reflection and development heavily relies on this moment of truthfulness. Lastly, her life revolving “around you” conveys a dependent message which makes the idea of change seem daunting.

Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

This recurring question and repetition demonstrates the uncertainty that lies in navigating life’s unpredictability. The change in tide, highlights the flow of life, you must adapt and change to the shifts that are brought up in life. Moreover the use of the metaphor sailing, represents navigating life’s emotional challenges, a skill that requires much patience as well as resilience.

This song is especially meaningful to me because it is the song my mom would always sing to me when I was little, It has always been our song. A couple years ago I even purchased her picture frame with the lyrics from the song in it, It still hangs on our wall. Analyzing this song has helped me identify with it even more, teaching me lessons about growth, uncertainty and self-realization.

What is The Significance of Feet and Walking in Beloved?

By Malou M.

On November 18, 2024

In Beloved

In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the emphasis on feet and walking repeatedly highlights the deep symbolism, representing themes of liberation, movement, and the lingering impacts of slavery. As demonstrated by Sethe’s barefoot escape from Sweet Home, feet represent the act of moving toward liberation. The physical and psychological toll that achieving freedom takes can be seen in the suffering and exhaustion she experiences along the way. In a comparable way, Paul D’s aimless wandering after he was freed shows how feet represent not just freedom and movement but also the search for identification and belonging, as well as the unavoidable consequences of the past.

Particularly striking is Sethe’s barefoot escape, which represents the ways in which enslaved people lost their freedom, including the ability to wander around. Her bare feet provide the story’s investigation of survival and autonomy a deeper level by evoking vulnerability, resilience, and the sacrifices made on behalf of freedom.

What Is The Significance Of Magical Realism?

By Malou M.

On October 31, 2024

In Exit West

As Saeed and Nadia find their one way to escape the war-torn country, they begin passing through magical doors. These unrealistic doors seem to transport them from country to country, finding comfort or even fear through the entering and exiting of these magical realms. Despite this, the refugees seem to move from door to door seamlessly, placing little emphasis on the extreme journey that immigrants experience when migrating. This element could emphasize the significance of the fluidity between the borders between countries. Furthermore due to the fluidity and the constant bouncing between countries, could foreshadow the chaos that Saeed and Nadia are experiencing, the sudden shifts between locations expresses the feelings of uncertainty as well as displacement, allowing us as the readers to get a feel for what it is like for the characters in the book. To add on, these magical fantasies take away from the harsh realities, these whimsical doors highlight the differences between the characters hope for change as well as demonstrates the harsh challenges faced.

How Can Isolation Affect People’s Relationships?

By Malou M.

On October 14, 2024

In Mutual Recognition, Stranger, Trust (film) - Hal Hartley, Uncategorized

In both “The Stranger” and in the film “Trust” the idea of isolation shows up multiple times, affecting characters and their relationships with others.

In “The Stranger” by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault seems to be very emotionally detached. Following his mothers death he goes on as if nothing had happened. He drinks coffee, smokes, and even picks up a girl to go have fun with. To add on he even refers to Marie as a robot, which shows just how surface level he thinks of her and how he lacks showing affection to others around him. The emotional indifference and lack of relationship Meursault presents to the readers really just shows how much he can isolate himself both mentally and physically.

Similarly in the film “Truth” by Hal Hartley, characters Matthew and Maria also adhere to the idea of isolation. Maria’s struggle with her pregnancy as well as the treatment by her mother, leaves her longing for some sort of connection. Matthew is so disconnected from his own emotions, he struggles with finding purpose in his life. These characters both struggling with feelings of isolation and worthlessness, however, they find each other and connect on a deeper meaning due to their mutual recognition.

These two different stories explore the complexity of deeper connection in a world that doesn’t always feel easy to do so.

Applying Benjamin’s Theory To The World/Summarizing Benjamin’s Argument – Analysis

By Malou M.

On September 28, 2024

In Jessica Benjamin

Jessica Benjamin emphasizes the importance of mutual recognition, where people acknowledge each other’s presence. Intersubjectivity is a balance of separation and connectedness, in order for someone to feel they are a subject they need to recognize someone else as a subject while that person is recognizing you as a subject. If someone engages with someone else, if someone doesn’t think you are on the same level with that person as a subject then you can’t make them feel as if that person’s a subject because they don’t see you in a way to make that possible to do so, it goes the other way as well. When one person in a relationship feels more power it can lead to issues in the relationship. Furthermore, not being recognized by the other person in the relationship will lead to a power struggle. Domination is the consequence, you must have true independence while still recognizing the other person. Lastly, Benjamin goes on to critique the traditional gender roles and how power is associated with them, her goal is to create a more inclusive understanding of power.

In, “Bonds Of Love” by Jessica Benjamin, she pushes hard to get her readers to understand mutual recognition. We can apply her theories to the real world by looking at relationships. In every relationship it is important to validate and recognize your partner’s thoughts and feelings. Doing so builds a strong foundation for a relationship built on respect and selflessness. Furthermore, being able to reside in a mutual relationship also means there is no toxic power imbalance between the couple. I like her theory and how she presents it to the world. I enjoy her view on how people should be treated with the same amount of respect no matter what role they play in the relationship. I think nowadays the world is slowly moving toward her theory, obviously we still see many power imbalances, however, our world has come a long way in recent years. It illuminates the issues in our world and how we can strive to be better, we could relate this to women. Women used to be primary caregivers, but thanks to the resistors, women today are able to work and challenge the stereotypical male dominance in a relationship.

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Story Power

Blogging the Lit Life

Author: Malou M.

Cordelia Vs. Goneril and Regan

“Landslide” A Song Of Growth And Reflection

What is The Significance of Feet and Walking in Beloved?

What Is The Significance Of Magical Realism?

How Can Isolation Affect People’s Relationships?

Applying Benjamin’s Theory To The World/Summarizing Benjamin’s Argument – Analysis

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